AFC West Standings 2021 Week 6: Las Vegas Raiders tie for first in the division
It was a successful Sunday for the Las Vegas Raiders as they secured a rivalry win and remain tied for first in the division. Here are the current AFC West standings after Week 6.
It has been a wild week, to say the least for the Las Vegas Raiders, but it ended on a strong note come Sunday afternoon. Many NFL outlets and analysts had pegged the Raiders to finish towards the lower spectrum of the AFC West, and yet through a quarter of the regular season, Las Vegas is proving the experts wrong.
In fact, they are currently one of two frontrunners in the division, with what is sure to be a tightly contested race all the way through Week 17.
Heading into the season, the Kansas City Chiefs were widely pegged as the favorites to finish atop the AFC West, and yet in Week 6, the Chiefs were battling to move to .500 on the year. By halftime, Kansas City found themselves down 13-10 to the Washington Football Team, a factor of Patrick Mahomes’ continued streak of turnovers (he’s on pace for 23 interceptions this season) and Kansas City’s porous defense.
The second half proved to be a different story, as the Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points and moved to 3-3.
The Los Angeles Chargers traveled to Baltimore with a 4-1 record and left with a demoralizing defeat at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Not only did the Ravens exploit the Chargers’ league-worst run defense for 34 points, but Baltimore’s defense shut down Justin Herbert, limiting Los Angeles to just six points. The loss brings the Chargers to 4-2 as they head into their bye week.
In the Mile High City, both the offense and defense of the Las Vegas Raiders were focused for their divisional rivalry matchup with the Denver Broncos. In Rich Bisaccia’s first outing as interim head coach, Derek Carr threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns as Las Vegas recorded 34 points on the day.
Henry Ruggs III (three receptions, 97 yards, one touchdown) was unleashed at the expense of the Broncos, who suffered four turnovers at the hands of the Raiders’ defense. Las Vegas’ 34-24 brings the team to 4-2 through the first six weeks of the season.
Here are the AFC West Standings through Week 6:
AFC West Standings: Raiders rise (Week 6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-2)
- Denver Broncos (3-3)
- Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
This coming week proves to be a great opportunity for Las Vegas to take advantage and keep pace atop the division. The Broncos have a short week as they face the Cleveland Browns on the road, proving to be a recipe for another surefire loss. The Chiefs travel to face Derrick Henry and the Titans, and a loss there can add supplementary distance in the standings with the Raiders.
As of now, the Raiders are side by side with the Chargers in the race for the AFC West, with Los Angeles holding the tiebreaker after their victory over Las Vegas in Week 4. But with the 2-4 Eagles traveling to Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders have an excellent chance to capitalize on the Chargers’ bye week.
Next. Raiders dominate Broncos in Week 6 victory. dark
If the Raiders can handle the Eagles next week, they will sit at 5-2 heading into their own bye week, a significant win considering all that has transpired through the first quarter of the season. They’ll hold the lead over the Chargers in the race for the AFC West, and will return after the bye for what is sure to be a favorable matchup as they face the New York Giants in Week 9.